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February 2009

Comfort in Blessing

The seven beatitudes of Revelation must have given comfort and hope to first century Christians who were suffering tremendous persecution. These blessings are also a great source of comfort and hope for the faithful Christians today!

1. Beatitude: Revelation 1:3
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keeps those things which are written in it: for the time is near.”

                   The ‘knowledge of the Word’ brings comfort in times of struggle.

For the Christian, the knowledge of the Word and how God works on earth can only be encouraging, giving stability and assurance. This doesn’t mean that Christians will be automatically spared and preserved, but the very fact that we know what is really taking place should increase our hope and trust in the Lord.

2. Revelation 14:13
“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

The point of this second blessing – even confirmed by the Spirit – is not so much the long awaited rest at death from toils and suffering, but the comfort of knowing that the Christian can live without fear of death, not only at the point of death, but even before it.

The promise of the Lord for rest brings peace and comfort in the face of fear of death.

3. Revelation 16:15
“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

The beatitudes in Revelation (the 3rd and the 6th) that deal with the aspect of the second coming of Jesus are preceded by a typical Hebrew revelatory introduction: “Behold, I am coming as a thief” and “Behold, I am coming quickly” which follows with a blessing. The introductory “behold” is not a presentation showing ‘surprise’, but rather is like an ‘alarm’, a warning of something unexpected coming for the unbelievers. For the Christians instead, who read this blessing, it can only encourage and give them a chance to prepare themselves. The Lord comes as a thief only for those who are not Christians, as with the church of Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6). For us he is not a thief, but our long awaited Lord!

The warning of the Lord is not about fear, but about a call to responsibility and maturity.

4. Revelation 19:9
“Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”

It is not so difficult to see why there is a blessing in being invited/called to a marriage supper! Of course, we know that this blessing speaks of a very unique wedding, where the Bride is the Church and Bridegroom is Christ! As the ‘Bride of Christ’ we must be committed and faithful to the relationship. We must be true and pure despite the temptations we face.

There is comfort in knowing that his hand on our lives is what deems us worthy of his calling.

5. Revelation 20:6
“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

There are two important aspects of this blessing. One relates to being saved and the other to being lost.

The comfort we get from this beatitude is the joy of being saved and being part of the plan of God.

6. Revelation 22:7
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

In the third beatitude the Lord says that he will come as a thief (for those that are not expecting him). For the Christians who continually look to him for his second coming he will quickly fulfill his promise. 

When you keep the commandments of God and turn your lives wholly over to him, the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7)

The comfort we get from this beatitude is that Jesus’ words will be proved once more true: he is at the door.

7. Revelation 22:14
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.”

In order to have the right to the tree of life and entrance to the city of God, our garments must be washed white “in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:14)

The comfort we get from this blessing is that although suffering may discourage us, the reward that awaits us far exceeds our momentary grief.